Darkman

Colonel Kurtz 2019-08-02
(5/10)
You kind of want to like this, as it does make some bland attempt at being unlike other movie licensees. However, it doesn't go all the way with it; in fact, it takes no more than a few baby steps.

Take the disguise feature, what great potential it had: you could think of a million ways to employ it, like having non-linear stealth-based gameplay with areas/objects that are unreachable unless you pose as a villain, or enemies who will leave you alone if you stay disguised and keep a distance. Instead it's completely inconsequential: they attack you anyway and you lose the mask after a hit or two, end of story. Then there's this half-assed brawler level which completely lacks punch and impact, a few lengthy, dull platformer levels with no checkpoints (the mother of all bad ideas), a frustrating rooftop chase and a rather annoying rendition of the helicopter scene from the movie. At least the controls are smooth and responsive, but still not too well designed.

As already noted, the dark tone of the Raimi movie just isn't there: bright graphics, washed-out sprites, canonical sounds (they can also be heard in Heimdall by the way!), no ingame music and a couple of inoffensive tunes in the presentations. Okay, back then the timescales of tie-in game development couldn't have allowed to fit the Danny Elfman score - one of my favourites! - but still, Jon Dunn has done better (sometimes).

Bottom line: decent game, unused potential, wasted licence and not much value for money.
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rhorschack 2017-01-05
(5/10)
Another terrible movie port. Great music by Jonathan Dunn though.
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Bebokus 2015-07-17
(4/10)
This is one is really bad. Another "great" title from Ocean (those guys were really good at making shitty games) where the difficulty is way to high, try to beat level 2, I dare you. The graphics are rather poor, probably one of the worst looking games from the masters (Ocean) and the gameplay is rather dull.

Cool intro track & poor sound effects.
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stooart 2011-03-08
(5/10)
A rather dull fighting game which just didn't grab me at all and even the platform aspect was uninspired. Just mediocre all round.
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Predseda 2010-09-13
(3/10)
Typical Ocean movie-based game. Boring, repetitive and unpleasant to play. All these games were made in hurry, to be released at the movie premiere or soon after it and it is surprising how long Ocean survived releasing games like Darkman...
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Kai 2007-02-19
(5/10)
Uninspired film licence game no. 5324. Quite boring. (53%)
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Guybrush Threepwood 2005-06-05
(5/10)
Hmm I don't know what it is with Ocean but they always seemed to have some poor film tie-in's but I suppose in a way this couldve been better although it aint the worst platofrm type game around on the Amiga
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LeeT 2005-02-13
(4/10)
Considering the licence, I expected the Darkman game to be..well quite dark and foreboding with a good atmosphere. What do we get? A Op Wolf clone and Street Fighter style game. What a let-down! I get the feeling that the guys at Ocean rushed this one, as I think a chimp could have done better!

Stay away from this as it could break your heart..
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